Jack Farthing is sipping strong, black coffee and deliberating whether he could up sticks and move to Cornwall. It’s a place that he knows well after playing dastardly banker George Warleggan in the hit Cornish drama Poldark, now in its fourth series.
“It’s thrilling terrain and I hope the people of Cornwall don't mind us bringing so many fans to the county, but it's such a massive part of the show.”
Farthing, born in north London to doctor parents, has always lived in the capital but is keen to spread his wings. “I love London, but you think it's the world when you live here.
"We also film a lot in Bristol and Bath, which is great, so when I come back to the busyness, I feel a bit exhausted.”
He might just have to get used to being busy, however. Poldark is of course his most prominent role to date, having performed at the Royal Court Theatre and had smaller parts in Stephen Poliakoff’s Dancing on the Edge, Jeff Pope’s Cilla and the 2014 film The Riot Club.
Playing the Honourable Freddie Threepwood in the PG Wodehouse series Blandings, broadcast on the BBC in 2013, is his other notable appearance, but along with filming Poldark, Farthing has recently secured work on the new Agatha Christie adaptation The ABC Murders and Official Secrets, an upcoming film starring Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Matt Smith and Matthew Goode.
One might argue that most of these roles have an air of poshness to them. Blandings concerns the potty aristocracy, while The Riot Club was based on Laura Wade’s 2010 play, set among a fictional all-male, exclusive dining club at the University of Oxford, often compared to the scandalous, real-life Bullingdon Club. And of course, George Warleggan is Poldark’s high-society man, with significant prized wealth and status.
Farthing was educated at Westminster School and Oxford University, before attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, the UK’s oldest drama school where Benedict Cumberbatch is the current president.
While not a member of the Old Etonian club (the recent gaggle of young stars including Tom Hiddleston and Eddie Redmayne who have launched a first-rate theatrical career from the establishment school), he is aware of being typecast in such a way, especially since he’s often compared to Hugh Grant.
Moreover, Farthing is keen to play against such stereotypes and convince audiences in roles well beyond his personal experience.
“As an actor you strive to retain a range. It's something I'm aware of. I try to fill the gaps and broaden my work and remind myself, more than anyone, that I’m capable of different things.”
“The most pleasure for me as an actor is to run a million miles from who I am,” he continues. “That's why I wanted to be an actor.
"You could bracket Blandings, Riot Club and Poldark together, but I never like to feel that I'm repeating a performance. I'd feel like a fraud.”
Indeed, in 2016, Farthing starred in Mike Bartlett’s play Wild, which explored the 2013 WikiLeaks revelations. His computer-analyst character was clearly based on Edward Snowden, who became a global cause celebre after lifting the lid on the mass surveillance programmes of US intelligence organisations.
Meanwhile, espionage thriller Official Secrets, due for release later this year, sees Farthing playing directly alongside Knightley (“totally wonderful, a real pleasure”), who brings star power to the true tale of British intelligence whistleblower Katharine Gun.
While both those parts revolve around secret intelligence agencies, Farthing is keen to explain that he relishes the challenge of digging deep into characters and periods in history that are relatively unknown. Poldark, for one, has fascinated with its portrait of the Georgians and the dark truths of 18th-century Cornwall.
Looking casual in turned-up jeans, a dark, untucked navy linen shirt and grey socks pulled up high over white trainers, Farthing is a far cry from any George Warleggan type. He confesses that he's a typical Libran - sociable and friendly, but struggles to make decisions or longlaid plans.
With his ruffled hair, boyish looks and doe eyes, he has a gentle and sweet nature, which brings us to talk about the current industry pressures on body image, especially given the hysteria over his Poldark co-star Aidan Turner, whose bare, glistening abs have provoked much conversation since that jaw-dropping scything scene three years ago.
“Now more than ever, there is definitely a push on body image. For young men at the moment there's a real gym drive. It's bigger than ever and definitely present in the world of acting.
“Go and see any of the big films, and they're full of very toned, beefy people. It's totally normal now if you're cast in one of those big films to have to transform your body,” he says.
“But no one is making Aidan look like he does just for Poldark. He has a huge fanbase and they're really nice to our show, so it's been great for us,” he continues.
But how does he feel about Poldark triggering familiar bleats about double standards, reverse sexism and women objectifying men?
“There's horrible objectification of men and women, but I've never been put in that position where I've had to change the way I look for something.
"I lost weight once for a role but it was because the character was very ill. It's hard for both sexes to be told to change the way they look, but it’s totally normal now. I don't know what I'd do if I was asked…”
Farthing then jokes that his Poldark character George is firmly encouraged to keep his clothes on. “He puts more on in fact, layers of them!” he laughs.
His Poldark co-stars have also been vocal about other current hot topics. Lead actress Eleanor Tomlinson (who plays the fiery Demelza, every inch the equal to her husband Ross, played by Turner) has recently addressed the show’s gender pay gap after becoming frustrated that she was paid less than Turner.
The pay gap between male and female actors has been a subject of continued discussion in recent years, so does Farthing agree that in such instances male actors should take a pay cut?
“I do agree with that and that there's something seriously wrong. There are inexplicable discrepancies that need to be set right. If that's the way to do it then that’s right. But most people agree that it's a problem that goes well beyond the entertainment industry. To not be aware of male power is deluded,” he says.
Otherwise, Farthing remains relatively quiet on such subjects, preferring to shy away from self-promotion and discussion on social media.
“I don't do any social media. I think it would make me so unhappy, so I steer clear. I've opted out. And I think a lot of people are doing the same now. It's just your own fiction.
"I've never been in a position where I have been told that I have to do social media for a job. And to be honest, if that's happening, then that's not the kind of work I want to be doing.”
Again, this attitude is a world apart from his Poldark character, who is obsessed with power and status and relentless social climbing.
“There's a lot of Georges around – social climbers, people with a chip on their shoulder. His costume and way of speaking aside, it's fascinating to think that there are still George types walking around London today,” he chuckles.
Throughout the current series of Poldark we have seen George more settled and empowered. He relishes being an MP and his marriage to Elizabeth (Heida Reed) is back on track with the pair becoming a formidable force in society.
“Parliament at the end of 18th century was so interesting. That world is totally mad and fascinating. For George it's his authority, but I could never be an MP,” he says.
“There's always been figures like Ross and George in politics, acting out their aspirations and morals and there are still resonances of this kind of behaviour today. I've always loved George.
"I've done the work to try to understand him, and the nice thing about these long-form TV series is that you can see different sides to the characters. Morally, ethically, heroically, George has to be the opposite of Ross. But in real life, in terms of politics at least, I am so much more Ross!”
Farthing has been praised for his portrayal of his complicated on-screen character, a delicious panto villain played with an aching edge of vulnerability.
“I'm George's biggest fan. People see him as a particular thing, but he has the capacity to surprise.”
Given his recent work in more nuanced roles, perhaps Farthing is more like George than he thinks.
Series 4 of Poldark continues on Sundays on BBC One at 9pm.
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